Don't miss the fact that the local community elders are out of line with higher authorities. You might still object to the death penalty for rape, but that is not that obviously unjust, though it would violate our 8th amendment. It was the law here too not all that long ago.

While the article was unclear, it did say that" "But a top Muslim body in India has rejected the argument saying it is not valid under Sharia (Islamic) law."So I am not sure that the harsh comments on Islamic law were that appropriate, at least in this instance.

this is ridiculous. all these comments from ignorant Islamophobic bashers.

Eddie P being the worst of them with his obscene and ridiculously incorrect assumptions.

just b/c a bunch of 'elder community council' thinks they have the right to issue a statement doesn't mean they are properly educated in the matters of islamic law. their statement is irresponsible, incorrect and idiotic. this sounds like the elder local council might just be a village clan without any proper education.

as the higher muslim org said she does not need to marry the raper. this is a grave act of injustice whereupon she was grievously violated against. her inlaw needs to be punished.

Ploopusgirl and yeah right; Sorry to inform you that we are not ignorant Islamophobic bigots. We have read countless news items on the internet on the barbaric treatment of women and on the intolerance of Muslims to other religions. Everyone should read the story of the Dutch Politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who with Theo Van Gogh (murdered by a Muslim fanatic) produced the film Submission. She says; "That to be a Muslim woman is to be born for the pleasure of men." She calls it "gender apartheid". She gets my vote for Person of the Decade. There is a good Nation article on her by Deborah Scroggins (Sorry do not have the link.

Unfortunately these councils of village elders seem to have sway over local affairs despite the fact that they are ill educated apparently in everything, not just in Islamic law.

The case of Mukhtaran Bibi in Pakistan is similar. Nicholas Kristof noted how her case in being treated this week, where a Court in Pakistan let out all of her attackers apparently as a way to shut her up and to stop her from going abroad since the government is afraid her testimony about the true state of affairs on these issues will publicly defame Pakistan.

And these two cases, imagine, are only two that have been partially reversed by higher courts because their verdicts were so outrageous and became widely known. How about the others, where the women were far too intimidated to speak out and received no local support – they must be countless.

Consider that these councils of village elders have held sway for generation on generation.